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N0. 608,647. Patented Aug. 9, |898.

J. L. CALAME. AUTMTIC SWITCH FOR RAILWAYS.

(Application tiled Feb. 15, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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JUSTIN L. CALAME, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSGURI.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,647, dated August 9, 1898. Application filed February 15, 1897. Serial No. 623,401. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JUSTIN L. CALAME, a citizen of the United States, residing` at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches for Railways; and I do hereby declare the following' to be a full, clear, and 'exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic switches for street-railways, more 1 particularly to that'class in which the mechanism for operating the switclrpoint is located between the tracks and is operated upon by devices carried by the car.

The particular construction and arrangement of my improved mechanism for the above purpose insures a proper throw of the switchpoint and provides a strong, simple, and durable apparatus, there being but a few parts and these are not liable to get out of order.

Vith the above ends in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l isa plan view showing the switch and means for operating the same, the cover of the inclosing casing being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the levers or presser-bars that operate the switch mechanism and are carried by the car. Fig. Ll is a plan view of the top of the casing.

l l designate the main tracks, and 2 the switch-point which leads to the side tracks, said switch-point being` pivoted at one end in the usual manner and tapered to lie close to the main tracks. Between the main tracks and adjoining the free end of the switch-point is located a bex 3, having cross-bars or bearing-plaies aand 5, between which is journaled a disk 6. To one side of the center of this disk is pivoted a lever 7, which projects through a slot therefor in the end of the boX and is pivoted at its outer end tof a depending pin or lug on the free end of the switch-point2- By this arrangement when the disk is turned in one direction it will move thepoint away from the rail, while an opposite movement of said disk moves it against the rail. Thus the oscillation of the disk opens and closes the switch.

Projecting upwardly from the disk 6 and on opposite sides of the center thereof are two rotatable studs or pins 6, the ends of which are flattened and lie in slots 8 inthe cover 9 of the inclosing case or boX, said pins having a lateral movement in slots in the disk, so as not to bind in the slots when the disk is turned. On either side of the slots 8 the cover is provided with guides l0, that extend parallel with the cover for a short distance and then project upwardly, as shown. The throw or rotation of the disk is limited in one direction by means of a pin 1G Ythereon engaging the cross-bar 4, while its opposite throw is limited by one of the pins 6 striking the end wall of a recess in the pivoted lever or connecting-rod 7. These stops vtake the strain off the studs or pins which move in the slots of the covering-plate. r It will be understood that the upper parts of the pins are flattened to fit snugly within the guide-slots and insure the proper engagement of the presser-bars therewith.

ll ll designate the operatinglevers or presser-bars, which are adapted to slide verti cally in straps l2, attached to the dashboard of the car, said levers being held normally elevated by ahelical spring 13, interposedvbetween one of the straps and a projection of the lever. provided with a rearwardly-projecting foot 14, above which is a cross-bar l5.

In operation when a car approaches the switch the motorman can throw the switchpoint to open and close said switch by depressing the proper operatin g-lever or pressen bar. In case he wishes to open the switch and pass on the side tracks to the right the lever to the right is depressed, which will enn gage the pin 6, Athus turning the disk and moving the switch point against the rail through `the intervention of the lever 7. As the cross-bar l5 of the lever passes up the guide-rails lO it will elevate the operating lever or presser-bar out of engagement with the stud or pin after said stud or pin has been The lower end of each lever isv IOO operated sufiiciently to throw the switch, and this upward movement warns the motorinan that the switch has been thrown. A

In case a car approaching the switch is to keep the main track the motorman depresses the lever or presser-bar on the left, which turns the disk 6 in the opposite direction and moves thc switch-point away from the main rails.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with a switch-point, of a rotatable disk, a lever pivoted at one end eccentrically to said disk and at the other end to said switch-point, rotatable pins having flattened upper ends upon the upper side of said disk, a casing in which said disk: is located having slots in the top or cover thereof in which the ends of said pins play, and means on a car for engaging one or the other of said pins, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a switch-point, of a casing whose cover is provided with elongated slots, a rotatable disk in said casing, a lever pivoted at one end eccentrically to said disk and at its other end tothe said switchpoint, rotatable pins upon the upper side of said disk having attened ends and extending through slots in said disk, and presserbars carried by the car and adapted to engage one or the other of said pins, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a switch-point, of a casing whose cover is provided with elongated slots, a rotatable disk within said casing, a lever pivoted at one end eccentrically to said disk and connected at its opposite end to a depending arm on the switch-point, rotatable pins upon the upper side of said disk having flattened ends engaging slots in the disk, and guide-rails on the cover of said casing located upon opposite sides of the slots therein and extended upwardly near the rear ends oi said slots, together with presser-bars carried by the car and cross-bars formed upon the lower ends ol the presser-bars, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an automatic switch for railways, the combination with the pivoted switch-point having a depending arm, of a box located at an intermediate point between the rails and provided with cross-bars or bearing-plates 4 and 5, a disk 6 mounted between said bearing-plates, a lever 7 pivoted to the disk at one side of its center and to the end of the switchpoint, said lever having a recess in one side of the same, pins or studs rotatably mounted in transverse slots in the disk and flattened at their upper ends, apin 1G projecting from the disk to limit its movement in one direction, the opposite movement being limited by the lever or connecting-rod, and a cover for the box having longitudinal slots and guiderails located at opposite sides of the slots, said guide-rails being extended upward at or near the rear ends of the slots; together with operating-levers or presser-bars carried by the car, each lever or presser-bar having a depending foot and a cross-bar above the same, the parts being constructed and organized substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

.In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JUSTIN L. CALAME.

Witnesses:

OSCAR E. BUDER, G. A. BUDER. 

